Millions of people have met the virus, with no symptoms, mild or severe symptoms.
Emphasizing the importance of continuing to be protected after the disease, the experts answered 7 important questions.
1) I HAD COVID-19, NOW WHAT SHOULD I PAY ATTENTION TO IN TERMS OF MY HEALTH?
Considering that the antibody levels that play a role in protection against the disease and the cells that play a role in cellular immunity may change depending on the severity of the disease, it is not possible to talk about a standard period or level of protection for everyone. However, it can be said that the probability of getting the disease again in the short term after the disease may be significantly low. However, it can be said that those who have had the disease should also follow the rules of mask, distance, hand and environment cleaning.
These measures are also critical practices in terms of preventing encounters with many different microorganisms, especially viruses, that can be transmitted through the respiratory tract and the occurrence of respiratory tract infections. Although it is for everyone, it is of particular importance to be careful about people who are in advanced age or who have diseases such as chronic lung, heart, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and obesity problems, regardless of their age.
2) HOW LONG DOES HAVING COVID-19 PROTECT ME AGAINST THE VIRUS?
People with Covid-19 are immune to the disease for a certain period of time. A wide variety of cells of the immune system, which is a complex system, play a role in the formation of immunity. In general, it has been shown that neutralizing antibodies can persist in the blood for up to three months in people with mild disease, and for up to six or even eight months in some studies. It has also been found that B lymphocytes, which play a role in the production of antibodies in patients with mild disease, can maintain their presence at high levels for a certain period of time.
As a result, clear information is not yet available. However, with new studies, information on protection periods will quickly become clear. Our current knowledge is that people who have had the disease must also take the necessary preventive measures.
3) SHOULD PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD COVID-19 BE VACCINATED?
There is no clear consensus yet on this issue. It is an accepted condition that antibody levels may decrease over time in people who have had the disease. Therefore, it is theoretically possible to provide a rapid increase in antibodies by administering a reminder dose in the sixth month. Currently, some of the studies on vaccination are about obtaining information about the status of antibodies when a reminder dose is administered in people with the disease, and there is no scientific data on this subject.
However, based on the knowledge that vaccines are not sufficient for everyone around the world and antibodies can be found for at least six months in those who have the disease, it can be said that reminder doses may be required after the sixth month in the light of current information. However, it is necessary to underline once again that the necessary precautions should be taken until the pandemic situation is taken under control, regardless of whether you have the disease or not, whether vaccinated or not.
4) WHAT DAMAGE COULD THE DISEASE HAVE LEFT ON MY BODY? WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR ONGOING SYMPTOMS?
As it is known, the Covid-19 agent SARS-CoV2 is transmitted from the upper respiratory tract and enters the cell by attaching to the ACE2 receptors and multiplies. There is hardly any organ that lacks Ace2 receptors. However, especially in the lungs, these receptors are very intense and the virus settles in the lower respiratory tract, causing the symptoms associated with it. The disease progresses with mild symptoms in most of the cases and generally resolves within two weeks. In cases with a more severe course of the disease, the recovery period of the disease may be prolonged, and this period may extend up to six weeks. The cases in which the complaints persist for more than eight weeks are called the long Covid-19. The most common complaints in such cases are; Fatigue, depression, restlessness, feeling of palpitations, muscle and joint pain, and problems with concentrating on a task can be seen. There is no clear information about whether or when these complaints resolve completely.
5) WHAT DISEASES SHOULD WE PROTECT AGAINST AFTER RECOVERY?
Especially in those with severe disease, protection from infectious factors that can be transmitted from the respiratory tract and cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections and the infectious diseases that they may cause is the most primary situation in the early periods after Covid-19.
In this respect, it should be kept in mind that the mask, distance and hand cleaning rule have an important role in protection at this point, and it should be tried not to be in too crowded and closed environments. It should also be kept in mind that some drugs that will be used unnecessarily in these rotations may facilitate the establishment of bacteria, viruses and even fungal microorganisms in the respiratory tract and thus prepare the ground for the development of infection.
6) CAN I DO SPORTS AFTER COVID-19?
Regular sports have an important role in both the immune system and the rapid return to normal after recovery from the disease. After the person feels ready, both the respiratory tract exercises and the exercises that are performed for half an hour at least twice a day, which will strengthen the muscle resistance, and the 45-minute walks at least four days a week are the kinds of activities that will contribute to recovery.
7) WHY IS THERE ANXIETY AFTER ILLNESS? HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS ANXIETY?
In some people with the Coronavirus, the persistence of some symptoms such as loss of taste and smell and shortness of breath after the disease can cause people to worry and make it difficult to adapt to daily life. With the cognitive distortions that will never end symptoms and the need to scan their body with disastrous cognitive distortions, they engage in behaviors such as getting approval from the doctor repeatedly. Such situations lead to health anxiety, causing the person to experience similar processes over and over in a vicious circle, and their worries to continue increasingly and continuously. In addition, some people who survive the virus feel responsible for those around them and experience feelings such as self-blame and anger.
